Sources 101: Sources for Different Research Projects

by | May 7, 2025 | Research Tips/Advice

Author: Narmeen Rasul
Editors: Pranitha Pothuri and Mahi Basra

Updated: May 7, 2025

Adding sources into a research project is crucial to ensure credibility, reliability, and reproducibility of findings. By citing reputable sources, researchers can follow the origins of ideas, data, and methods in order to confirm that the research is based on scientifically validated evidence. It also provides transparency, allowing other researchers to build on previous research projects and pursuing further investigation into that specific field. Lastly, proper citations are important for an article to be peer reviewed and published, as intellectual honesty and integrity are essential to the field of healthcare research. 

 

When starting a research project, it can be difficult to start to find initial sources in which one can discover potential gaps in literature and up-to-date research. This list of resources can help guide you in starting to research a subject.

 

General: These sites can be used for all types of research and can also be a start to creating new research projects or exploring current projects. In general sources, it is important to be efficient in creating a subject to research. Short two to three key word phrases should be used which are most pertinent to the research subject while specifying source type. Source type includes clinical trials, case reports, and journal articles, all of which can be useful in different settings. Additionally, the subjects can be filtered by year so that the most recent and relevant articles are viewed first. If not enough articles are applicable, you can then expand the research subject by including more keywords or older articles. 

  • Google scholar: This is a search engine for articles of all categories. 
  • UpToDate: This evidence-based resource provides current information on interesting patient cases, medications and interactions, and any other information clinicians may need in helping a patient. 
  • Your school library database
  • Pub med
    • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ 
    • On the basic search results, you can enter your research subject. Then, under “sort by”, you can sort the results by best match, most recent, journal, first author, or publication date. Additionally, the sidebar options can be used to restrict results by article type (case reports, biography, clinical trials phase I, etc.), language, species, and more. With “display options”, you can search a summary, abstract, or pubmed identification numbers for any article.
    • When searching the advanced interface, you can use the option “all fields” followed by “search index” in order to search by one or multiple specific subjects, allowing for systematic searches in multiple fields, such as “cardiac surgery” or “breastfeeding 1 week postpartum”.  
  • Embase: This is an internationally recognized biomedical literature database similar to PubMed. It can also develop systematic searches and generate research questions based on its own data. Although it requires a subscription for access, many organizations are already involved so it may be provided by your hospital or school. 

 

Case Reports

  • BMJ case reports: This claims to be the “world’s largest collection of clinical case reports”, which may be helpful in both creating and writing a case report. It can also be browsed by speciality and provides the most recent case reports first. If desired, one can also submit a case report to be published.
  • Journal of medical case reports: In this website, one can find new case reports on different presentations of patients which highlight gaps in traditional practices in order to encourage healthcare providers to minimize stereotypical patient presentations.
  • Medline plus: This service from the National Library of Medicine is a resource targeted towards patients and has information in an easily understandable format  broken down into subjects. Each article has plentiful references from reliable websites which one can use to research case reports on a particular subject.

 

Bench or Translational Studies

  • PLOS one: This open-access journal publishes a wide range of disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, research and analysis methods, and experimental medicine.
  • Scopus: This publishing site offers a variety of journals but requires a subscription, usually accessible through medical institutions. 
  • Research gate: This website is a social networking site for academics that includes a vast repository of publications.
  • BioRxiv: This website is very biology and neuroscience driven and has many animal studies which can be applicable to the medical field. 

 

Clinical Research

  • The Lancet: This website has specific magazines in many fields of medicine, including child health, endocrinology, oncology, and public health.
  • Cochrane Library: This website provides evidence-based medicine as well as current clinical trials.
  • JAMA: JAMA Network provides the most up to date and concise information for practicing clinicians in all areas of practice, including both clinical research and case reports. 
  • New England Journal of Medicine: NEJM is one of the top medical journals publishing high-quality clinical research, including clinical trials, cohort studies, and expert reviews.
  • Clinicaltrials.gov: A specialized resource for information about ongoing or completed clinical trials, including phase I-IV drug trials, vaccine studies, and observational studies.

 

Systematic Review and Statistical Tools

 

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References 

 

(2025). The top list of research databases for medicine and healthcare. Paperpile LLC. https://paperpile.com/g/research-databases-healthcare/ 

(2025). How to use PubMed: the ultimate guide. Paperpile LLC. https://paperpile.com/g/pubmed-guide/ 

(2024, August). Types of Medical Literature. Georgia State University Library. https://research.library.gsu.edu/c.php?g=115556&p=752623